Box strapping machine



y 1933. H. E. TWOMLEY 1,906,289 5 BOX STRAPPING MACHINE Fil ed May 13,1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Invent By I ' A/tornev:

May 2, 1933, -g TWOMLVEY 1,906,289

BOX '5 TRAPPING MACHINE Fild May 13, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 2%" if w J {a4? /05 M I m" I 65 m! 97 4M. J04

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May 2, 1933. TWOMLEY 1,906,289

BOX STRAPPING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1952 s Sheets-Sheet s J2 m6 6 3 9565 05 6 5 549' 66 M 64 Inventor Patented May 2, 1933 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE HERBERT n TWOMLEY, or RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA, AssIGNoR r0CLARA B. PARKER, or RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA, EXEUUTRIX or THE ESTATE orGEORGE D. PARKER, DECEASED BOX" STRAPPING- MACHINE Application filed May13, 1932. Serial No. 611,112. 1

My invention relates to'boxing machines, and has particular reference toa machine for applying retaining straps or bands upon boxes or similarpackages.

In the art of boxing various types of articles, it frequently occursthat a binder or band is desired to be placed about the corners of thebox or. other package, particularly in applying covers to filled boxesor containers in which it is desired to put a tie or retaining strap orband across the cover of such boxes or containers.

Various types of devices for applying straps orbands of this type havebeen devised, some of which operate to apply tie wires or tie straps inthe form of wlres cut to a desired length andv sharpened so that theends of the wires may be pressed into the wood or other material of thecontainer to thereby, make the ties or straps self-retaining. Such typesof straps and strap apparatus is disclosedin the patent to George D.Parker. Serial No. 1,715,780, issued June 4, 1929. However, such earlierdevices have been complicated in their construction and costly tomanufacture."

Itis, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a simple devicefor applying straps or bands to boxes. 7

Another object of my invention is to provide a device for applyingstraps or bands across the covers of boxes, in which the device may bemanually operated.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a press for applying boxstraps across the cover of boxes, in which a press fga'me may bemanually pressed down upon the box to place the cover thereofundertension andin which the strap is applied while the tension ismanually maintained. I

Another object of the invention is to provide an attachment for boxpresses which may be readily employed to adapt box presses for theapplication of pre-formed straps.

Another object of the invention is to provide an attachment for boxpresses of the character employed to secure lids ,to boxes 111 which themanual operation of the press also moves a strap press frame intocompressing relation with the box cover.

Another object of the invention is'to provide a construction as setforth in the preceding paragraph in which a manually 'operableapplicator is provided for pressing a pre-formed strap into engagementwith the .box, while the press frame-holds the cover under compression.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from a study of thefollowing specifications, read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a box press andstrap applying device constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view, similar to Figure 1, showing a pressframe in box lid engaging position;

Figure 8 1s a perspective vlew, looking toward the rear of the machineshown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a detail, cross sectional view of the strap applicator, usedwith the machine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5'is a detail view, slmilar to Figure 7 4, showing the strapapplicator in position to bend the strap around the box-cover;

Figure 6 is a detail view, similar to Figures 4 and 5, showing theapplicator pressing the strap into engagement with the box; and

Figure 7 is a detail, sectional View of the strap feeding mechanismemployed in my invention.

Referring to the drawings, I have illustrated a box supporting table 1suitably mounted upon supporting frames 2 and 3 secured respectively atthe ends of'said table. The supporting frames 2 and 3 are preferablyconstructed with upright legs 4 and 5 secured to a base plate 6 and maybe formed from a continuous length of angle iron or structural iron orsteel of any suitable shape.

Each of the end frames is provided between the legs 4 and 5 thereof witha slot 7, preferably formed of two upright members 8 and 9 secured tothe end 'frame in spaced relation to form a slideway in which a guideroller 10, secured to a box press 11, may

members 12 and 13, one near each end of the table 1, the uprights 12 and13- being rigidly connected in spaced relation by means of a cross baror brace 14 between the ends of the uprights. Also the lower end of theupright '12 is illustrated as having a pin 15 extending laterallytherefrom into the space or slideway between the members 8 and 9 so asto form substantially a pivotal connection between the upright 12 of thepress and.the table support. The upright 13 is similarly rovided with apin 16 which extends throug a slot 17 formed similarly upon the oppositesupporting frame 2. Each of the uprights 12 and 13 is preferablyprovided with a forwardly extending bracket 18 which is rigidly securedto the associated upright and provides a connection for a connecting rod19 by which the press 11 may be moved upwardly and downwardly. Thebracket 18 is illustrated as being formed from a section of angle ironextending at right angles to the upright 12, with which it isassociated, while a suitable angle brace 20 extends between the upright12 to the outer end of the angle iron, the lower end 21 "of the brace2Obeing illustrated as bent toward the front of the table, and providedwitha laterally extending pin 22 engaged by the side of the connectingrod 19, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

An operating lever 23 for the press is illustrated as comprising asubstantially U- shaped member pivoted at the ends of the U to the guidemember 9, as is indicated at 24 and 25, respectively, so that the baseof the U extends outwardly toward the front of the table where itterminates in a relaa box 29 which may be placed upon the table 1. Theinitial movement of the connecting rods 19 will not only pull thebracket 18 downwardly, but will also tend to rotate the 'same so as todraw the apparatus 12 and 13 slightly forward toward the table. In orderto insure this forward movement of the press 11 the pin 22 extends intoa position where 19 upon the initial downward movement of it willcontact the side of the connecting rod the rod, thus effectively tiltingthe press 11 forwardly.

It will be observed that the upright guide member 8 is bent rearwardlyat its upper end, as is indicated at 30, so that when the press is inits upper position the roller 10 may slide somewhat rearwardly out ofalignment with the guide slot 7, but when the connecting rod 1s pulleddownwardly and the press tilted forward, the roller 10 is brought intodirect vertical alignment with the slot 7.

The foregoing apparatus is that usually found upon a manually actuatednailing or lidding press employed in the placing of lids on crates orboxes particularly used in connection with the citrus industry.

- By referring particularly to Figure 2, it

will be observed that when the press frame 11 is drawn downwardly, thepressing members 31 and 32 which-extend forwardly from the uprights 12and 13, respectively, will engage the top or cover 33 of a box 29 nearthe ends thereof and will press the same downwardly into tightengagement with the end members 34 of the box for nailing to the endframes of the box. It is usual, in this type of boxing, to secure thecover 33 to the box by driving a plurality of nails into the end framesthrough the end edges of the box cover.

It will also be observed that while the nailing operation is to occur,it is necessary that the press frame 11 be held in the downwardposition,and for this purpose it is usual to provide a pawl and ratchet mechanismto retain the pedal 26 in its depressed position. This construction isillustrated as comprising a bar 35 extending from beneath the table 1 inalignment with the movement of the U-shaped lever 23 and having itslower end'provided with a plurality of ratchet teeth. 36 to be engagedby a pawl 37 secured to a pawl lever 38 pivotally mounted at 39 upon thepedal portion 26 of the lever 23. Thus when the pedal is moved to itsdownward position, the pawl 37 will engage the ratchet teeth and holdthe lever in the downward position until the pawl is released by movingthe pawl lever 38.

In applying lids to boxes of the character used in the citrus industry,it is common to fill the boxes to a level slightly above the level ofthe top of the boxes so that when the lid is in, place it presses thecontents downwardly into the interior of the box. However, in view ofthe fact that the lid is usually constructed of rather thin material,the central portion of such lid is bowed upwardly by contact.with thefruit or other contents of the box. It is desirable that an additionalsecuring device be placed across the center of the lid in order toproperly re- -tainthe lid upon the box, and also to prevent unduestrains being placed upon the material of which the cover isconstructed.

The intermediate securing devices may comprise a band or strap ofsuitable material placed across the'cover of the box and secured to thesides of the box while under strap press 43 preferably 'sition upon thebox cover.

tension or while the lid of the box is compressed by some exteriormeans. One common form of securing device is illustrated as comprising apre-formed box strap 40 which is formed as a length of relatively heavyWire, the ends 41 and 42 thereof being bent at substantially less thanright angles to the major portion of the wire and the ends sharpened soas to permit ready driving thereof into the material of the sides of theboxes, thus making the strap 40' selfsecuring. Such straps and theirmethod of manufacture and use is well known in the art, and isillustrated in the patent to George D. Parker, mentioned hereinabove.

I utilize the box table and cover press hereinbefore described as aready means for permitting the attachment of box straps of thischaracter by employing a strap press 43, mounted upon a slide 44, whichis in turn reciprocably mounted upon an upright guide 45 secured to thetable construction. The is illustrated as comprising a cover press arm46 extending forwardly from the slide 44 and having a lengthconsiderably in excess of the width of a box 29;

A pair of cover forming plates 47 and 48 are secured to one side of thearm 46, the plates together forming a substantially U- shaped box coverengaging device which presses the box cover downwardly toward the boxand-at the same time bends the sides of the cover slightly toward thebox to present a substantially rounded appearance to the contiguousedges of the box sides and cover. The arm 46 also constitutes a mountingdevice for a strap feed mechanism 49 which includes a pair of upstandingbrackets 50 and 51, respectively, spaced from a pair of strap guides 52and 53 by an amount equal to the thickness of the wire material fromwhich the strap is formed, so that the assembled mechanism constitutes amagazine in which a number of straps may lie, one upon the other readyto be fed to a po- By referring particularly to Figures 3 and '7, itwill be observed that the lower ends of the brackets 50 and 51 areformed with outwardly extending portions 54 and 55, respectively, eachof which is formed with a laterally extending slot 56 in which operatesa strap pick slide 57. o

By referring particularly to Figure 7, it will be observed that thenormalposition of the pick slide 57 is immediately below the stack ofstraps 40 in the strap feeding magazine, but when the pick slide 57 ismoved rearwardly in its slot 56 it permits the straps 40 todescend untilthe lowermost strap comes to rest upon a shoulder 58 -formed upon theoutwardly extending portions 54 and of the brackets 52 and 53.Preferably, the distance between the upper edge of the pick slide57""and the shoulder same forward, as is indicated in Figure 7 while theslide 57 will hold the remainder I of the straps in the magazine.

t will also be observed from an inspection of Figure 7, that theshoulder 58 is curved outwardly and downwardly to form a slide uponwhich the strap 40, so picked off, may move downwardly toward the lowerends of the plates 47 and 48 and in so doing will be turned through anangle of 90. The purpose of this construction is that in order to beststore the straps 40 in the magazine construction, the outwardly bentends of the straps 40 should extend horizontally while, when the strapis in-position to be applied to the box, the points should be directeddownwardly, ready to be bent toward the box sides with the points of thestrap di- Igected at right anglesto the sides of the From an inspectionof Figures 3,4 and 7, it will be observed that a pair of strapsupporting blocks 59 and'6O are secured to the rear faces of the plates47 and 48 and are spaced therefrom, respectively, by fillers .61. and62, the inner edges of the fillers being formed with shoulders to catchthe ends of the strap and support the same above a box positioned uponthe table so that when a strap 40 is fed from the magazine it fallsbetweeif the plates 47-48 and the blocks 59--6O and comes to rest withthe ends 41 and 42 of the strap in engagement with the journaled. A.crankarm, 66 is illustrated as being rigidly secured to the shaft 65 formovement therewith, the lower end of the crankarm being engaged with thepick slide in its guide slot 56. Similarly, a crankarm 67, provided nearthe other end of the shaft 65 operates the pick slide upon that end ofthe strap magazine:

The outer end of the shaft 65, is mu trated as having a third crankarm68 rigidly secured thereto, the outer end of the crankarm 68 being,provided with a rearwardly extending roller 69 to engage a cam track 57so that oscillation of the shaft 65 will cause the pick slide 57 to bereciprocated 70 extending vertically alongside thestrap! press guide 45,so that as the strap press 43 is moved downwardly along its guide 45 thecammed surface 71 of the track 70 will cause the crankarm 68 to moveoutwardly, thereby partially rotating the shaft to draw the pick slides57 to their rearward position, while, upon return of the strap press toits upper position, a reverse movement of the shaft 65 is accomplishedby means of a tension spring.72 to move the pick slides to their-normalposition, pressing the lowermost strap from the magazine into a positionready to be applied to the box.

By referring particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3, it will be observedthat the strap press guide 45 is secured rigidly to the rear of thepresstable 1 by means of a suitable cross bar 79 extending between the tablesupporting frames 2 and 3 to which the guide 45 will be secured bysuitable angle brackets 80. The lower end of the guide 45 is likewisesecured to the table construction by means of a cross bar 81 extendingbetween the frames 2 and 3 to which the lower end of the guide 45 may besecured by means of angle brackets 82.

It will also be observed that a pulley 83 is provided upon the upper endof the guide 45, the same being mounted upon the guide by means of apair of bearing brackets 84 so that the groove 85 of the pulley is insubstantially direct yertical alignment with the center of the guide 45.The strap press 43 is preferably maintained in its uppermost position bymeans of a, suitable tension spring 86 connected at one of its ends 87to the lower angle bracket 82, while the upper end of the spring isconnected to a suitable cable 88 to one of the plates 48, comprising apart of the-strap press.

The press 43 is arranged to be drawn. downwardly by the same operationwhich draws the cover press 11 downwardly by interconnecting theoperating lever 23 for the cover press 11 with the strap press 43 as bymeans of a cable 89 extending from the lever 23 over a pulley 90 securedimmediately beneath the table 1 and then passing the cable over a secondpulley 91 rotatably secured near the lower end of the guide-45, afterwhich the cable extends upwardly to be secured to the slide 44. Ifdesired, a spring 92 may be interposed between the cable and the slide44 so as to limit the compression which may be placed upon the covertoadesired value and thus compensate to some extent for differences inthe amount of movement permitted the lever 23 by engagement of the coverpress 11 with different heights of boxes.

Attachment of the cable 89 to the lever 23 may be readily accomplished.by connecting a cross bar 93 across the base of the U and providing anupstanding arm 94 thereon having a plurality of openings 95 throughwhich a pawl 96 may be inserted to secure the end of the cable in anyone of a number of positions along the arm 94.

It will thus be observed that upon placing a box 29 upon the table 1 andoperatingthe lever 23 to move thepress .frame 11 down upon the cover 33,pressing the cover into nailing position upon the box, is simultaneouslyaccompanied by a descent of the strap press 43 until the press 43engages the lid of the box and presses the same down- By referringparticularly to Figures 4, 5,

6, and 7, it will be observed that the strap press 43 is provided with apair of strap driving members 97 and 98, each of which is pivotallymounted upon bearings 99 and 100, respectively, near opposite ends ofthe plates 47 and 48. The upper end of the strap driving member 97 isillustrated as being connected through a link 101 to one end 102 of alever 103 pivoted at 104 upon the strap press 43.

The upper end of the strap driving member 98 is connected through a link105 to the lever 103 at a point 106 lying on the opposite side of thepivot 104-to that at which the link 101 is connected. When the strappress 43 is in its elevated position and the lever 103 is in its normalposition, as is.-

illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, thedriving members 97 and 98 are in thepositions substantially as shown in Figure 4, the contact ends 107 and108 of these driving members-being spaced considerably above the, levelof the strap supporting fillers 61 and 62 so that they present nointerference to the feeding of ,the strap 40 into position above theb0x29.

However, when the strap press 43 is drawn downwardly into engagementwith the cover 33 of the box, the overhanging ends of the plates 47 and48 will descend beyond the upper level of the cover 33 and the strap 40will be engaged by the top of the cover 33 and be pressed upwardlytoward the plates 47 and 48' and thus toward the driving ends of thedriving members 97 and 98. It will be observed that this operation willcause the strap 40 to be bent slightly around the cover, while, at thesame time, the strap ends will be lifted out of contact with thesupporting fillers 61 and 62. Thus, upon the swinging of the lever 103around the pivot 104 by the operator, the strap driving members 97 and98 will press the adjacent ends 41 and 42 of the strap 40 around thesides of the cover until the points of the ends 41 and 42 of the strapengage the sides of the box, as shown in Figure 5. Further manipulationof the lever 103 will cause the driving ends 107-108 to press thepointed ends of the straps directly into the sides of the box 29 andthus secure the strap to the box.

Thus by two simple manual operations, one the pressing of the lever 23downwardly to draw the cover press and strap press into engagement withthe box, and the other the operation by hand of the lever 103, thestrapsare automatically fed from the magazine and are placed over the cover ofthe box, bent therearound, and the ends of the straps driven into thesides of the box. It will, therefore, be observed that I have provided asimple strap applying mechanism which may be readily attached toexisting box cover press machines which in 1g) wise interferes with thenormal operation of such machines, but which permits the same machine tobe utilized both as a cover press, assisting in the nailing of thecovers to the box, and, also, as a machine for quickly and readilyapplying a center strap across-the cover of the box.

It will also be observed that the strapping device is simplein itsoperations of feeding the straps from a suitablemagazine into a positionready to be applied to the box, and by a simple manual operation thestraps may be attached to the box.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited toany of the details of construction shown or described herein, except asdefined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device for applying pre-formed straps to boxes, a box supportingtable, a vertical guide mounted upon the rear of said table, a strappress slidably mounted upon said guide and extending transversely 0 saidtable across a box placed thereon, manually operable means for movingsaid strap press downwardly into pressing engagement with a box on saidtable, a strap magazine associated with said press for holding a supplyof straps, strap feeding mechanism for feeding said straps one at a timefrom said magazine to said press, a stationary cam mounted adjacent saidguide, operating means for said feeding means carried by said press andengageable with said cam to operate said feeding means upon eacreciprocation of said press upon its guide, and means on said press forapplying the strap so fed to said box.

2. In combination with a box press table having a'cover press and amanually operable lever for actuating said cover press,

an attachment for applying straps to boxes including a vertical guide tobe mounted upon the rear of said box press table, a strap press slidablymounted upon said guide and extending transversely of said table acrossthe box placed thereon, means interconnecting said cover press leverwith said strap press for moving said press down- Wardly into pressingengagement with a box when said lever is operated, and means on saidstrap press for applying a strap to said box.

.3. In combination with a box press table having a cover press and amanually op-- erable lever for actuating said cover press, an attachmentfor applying straps to boxes including a vertical guide to be mountedupon the rear of said box press table, a strap press slidably mountedupon said guide and extending transversely of said table across the boxplaced thereon, means interconnecting said cover press lever with saidstrap press for moving said strap press downwardly into pressingengagement with a box when said lever is operated, means on said strappress for applying a strap to said box, and means normally urging saidstrap press upwardly out of engagement with said box.

4. In an attachment for box cover presses having a box supporting table,a cover press and a lever for actuating said cover press, saidattachment including a vertical guide to be secured to the rear of saidbox press table, a strap press slidably mounted upon said guide andextending transversely of said table across a box placed thereon, astrap magazine for holding a number of straps associated with said strappress, feeding mechanism for feeding said straps from said magazine tosaid press one at a time, a cam secured to said guide, operating meansfor said strap feeding means movable with said strap press and engagingsaid cam for operating said feeding mechanism upon each reciprocation ofsaid strap press upon its guide, and means interconnecting said coverpress lever with said strap press for moving said strap press downwardlyinto pressing engagement with a box on said table when said cover presslever is actuated.

5. In a device for applying straps to boxes, a box supporting table, avertical guide secured to the rear of said table, a strap press slidablymounted upon said guide and extending transversely of said table acrossthe box positioned thereon, a foot lever on said table, means connectingsaid foot lever with said strap press to move said

